The Ultimate Moving Day Prep List

Moving day is almost here! The paperwork is done and it’s time to move into your dream home. We know this process can be exasperating. Many health experts have found moving is one of the most stressful things you can do. To combat the stress and keep you focused on the important things, keep this checklist with you.

1. Clean Out Your Closets 

Moving is a great opportunity to purge your closets. You are on the verge of a fresh start. Do not take anything with you that will weigh you down. Ask yourself, “Have I worn this in the last 6 months?” If not, put it in the giveaway pile. If you have friends who admire your wardrobe, invite them over to claim whatever pieces you’re finished with. Whatever is left, donate to Goodwill along with any furniture you don’t want to take with you. If you have large pieces, many local thrift stores make house calls to pick them up.

2. Clean Out Your Drawers

We all have that one junk drawer. Moving is a great opportunity to rid yourself of lost or forgotten items you don’t use. Remember to recycle or donate anything you don’t want if possible. 

3. Pick Up Boxes

You can always find affordable boxes and tape at the U Haul store. For a (free!) green method, stop by your local grocery store and ask to use their leftover boxes. Whole Foods is typically thrilled to repurpose their produce delivery boxes.  

4. Turn on the water, electricity, and internet at your new place 

Make sure to contact your new providers at least two weeks in advance. Preparing for this ahead of time will ensure that your first few nights in your new home will be comfortable. 

5. Hire Movers

Movers are pricey and not always an option…… but if you’ve done it once, you’ll never go back to doing the heavy lifting yourself. It makes a huge difference to have some professionals involved and to get it done in one-go on moving day. 

6. Forward your mail to your new address

Fill out an official change of address form and have all your mail forwarded to your new home. It will take a while to update your address on all of your subscriptions. Forwarding your mail is simple. Just fill out this quick 1-minute form and all of your mail and packages will be forwarded to your new home for 6 months. 

7. Carefully wrap up your fragile items.

Take care of all your plates, dishes, china, electronics, and sentimental keepsakes. Err on the side of caution and move these boxes on your own. I won’t let movers touch my fragile items no matter how professional they are. For a green method, you can avoid using bubble wrap by using T-shirts, towels, and blankets to pad your fragile items. As a bonus, it’s one less thing for you to pack later, too. 

8. Make plans for your pets

Pets are smart. They can sense when change is coming, and it can make them anxious and even unpredictable. In the weeks leading up to moving day, you’ll be packing and shifting all the objects that make up their safe space. It would be much easier if we could just explain to them that everything is going to be ok.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. They will reach peak anxiety on moving day. If you hire movers, strangers will enter and exit the house all day long. Doors will be left open, making it too easy for a nervous animal to make a dash for it. To combat this, make a plan for your pets during moving day. Take them to a friend’s house for the day, or you can even book them a stay at doggy daycare. For their safety, we recommend anything that keeps them out of the chaos of the day. 

9. Pack an overnight bag

It’s hard to find anything during your first night in a new house. Pack a designated suitcase with enough clean clothes and toiletries to last you a few days. Stash your suitcases in your front seat where they’re easily accessible. 

Congratulations from Collier Title! 

We hope your new home brings you warmth and happiness for the years to come!